101 musical films

The musical is one of the key genres of both Hollywood and international cinema. It was central to Hollywood in the studio period and remains for many one of the defining forms of popular cinema—the embodiment of “light entertainment.” Although Hollywood has made far fewer musicals since the 1960s (like the Western, the musical is often thought of as being in terminal decline), the genre continues to evolve, both in the U.S. and elsewhere. At the same time, there remains an abiding sense of affection and nostalgia for those Hollywood musicals made in the studio period. This new addition to the BFI Screen Guides series provides a guide to the classic movie musicals of Hollywood cinema, but also addresses musicals from countries including France, Spain, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Films addressed range from An American in Paris to High School Musical, and from Les Demoiselles de Rochefort to Nashville. The volume is richly illustrated with images from the movies discussed